Snow can now be produced more effeciently, snowmakers say

Ken Mack is director of snowmaking at Loon Mountain in Lincoln. He began in 1999 and is the third generation in his family his family to work on the mountain. He discussed advances in snowmaking technology and what it means to the snow surface, recently in his offices at the base of the mountain.

The need for energy efficiency and concern for global climate change are driving engineers to build a better snow gun.And it is working -- just ask anyone who has recently been to Loon.Ski-area operators say advances in snowmaking technology over the past decade are making a significant dent into the damage nature is dishing out with rain, snow-eating fog and warm temperatures.There is a difference in both the quantity and quality of snow being blown this winter throughout New England, and it is happening at higher temperatures. The folks with the new toys are riding high.Snowmakers say they can make five times the amount of snow with the same amount of compressed air and water compared to even 10 years ago, and that the crystals being delivered to the surface to shred under snowboards and skis is more durable, reusable and more easily groomed.With climate change a consideration that the ski industry is taking seriously, guns are now efficient and able to make snow at higher temperatures as well, provided there is adequate water.Ken Mack is director of snowmaking at Loon Mountain in Lincoln. He began in 1999 and is the third generation in his family to work on the mountain. They were all groomers.He remembers the old days."It was more of an art form," he said. "The snowmaker had to make adjustments for maximum snow," as the conditions changed.In late November and early December when nothing was open in the state, Loon has clocked over 500 hours of snowmaking and has more than 30 trails open.In the past two years, Loon has spent more than a half-million dollars on new snowmaking equipment.Behind his desk, Mack reaches for a heavy steel snow gun, made by Ratnick. It is still a system standard.Snowmaking is largely dependent on the snowmaker adjusting a nozzle that combines compressed air and water. It is placed on a tripod a few feet above the ground and the product shoots out like a cannon. If you have ever had to ski next to one of these things, you know that if the blast is coming out and sticks primarily to your parka, the product is too wet and hard. But if it just sloughs off, the snowmaker has a done a good job of mixing the air and the water based on temperature, Mack noted.In the past two years, Loon has invested in 640 new Low-E HKD aerial snowguns, which have become a game-changer for the resort. Last year, it meant the resort was among the first in the East to open and one of the last to close, something that Mount Sunapee's spokesman Bruce McCloy marveled at.Especially in the late fall when we talked about it, Loon had far more terrain open than Sunapee and most every other resort New Hampshire.Loon has added 40 new guns this year on Lower Twitcher.McCloy said the previous generation of the HKD pole guns, which Sunapee has, still work far better than the old methods, allowing the crystals to drop from the sky."This and gives them more hang time," McCloy said. "The crystals formed are nice and tight," and far more durable.Also, he said he can make five times the amount of snow using these guns which are more enegy efficient.But each gun costs over $2,500.On the mountain, you see them spaced, in some cases, as close to 30 feet apart the higher up the mountain you go.The snow can be plowed downhill.Fan guns, which appeared mostly in the Midwest in the 1990s, are being used more often in the East. Their benefit is they can make a lot of snow at higher temperatures and are energy efficient. But, their drawback is they cannot be easily moved around a resort. You will see them in base areas and wide open beginner terrain cranking out the produc. But, on the hill, the aerial guns rule.Built in Natick, Mass. HKD is a leader in the technology. It was a company created by Herman K. Duprey who first used the technology at Seven Springs Resort in Pennsylvania. The pipe, pressure washer and nozzles are all American made. The company just purchased the Canadian firm Turbocrystal of St. Anne, Quebec.The beauty for Mack is that these new guns have a measured output which is not based on the snowmaker tinkering with amounts of pressure and water in the Ratnick snow gun."I can calculate it so I know exactly what I can run," said Mack. He noted in the past he might have had maybe 80 guns going at the same time. Now, he can have 285 guns working at once, have fewer gallons of water pushed out and with a lower cost on the electric bill.These days, Loon pumps 150 to 189 million gallons of water a year on the hill where a decade ago, it was more like 300 million gallons, Mack noted. It is returned into the watershed as water in the spring."The quantity is twice the volume and two-thirds the energy consumption and the quality is tremendous," he said.Expect these guns to kick into high gear all across New England this week as the cold weather returns. This will allow resorts to spruce up a bit for the upcoming three-day weekend.Paula Tracy writes about the outdoors for WMUR.com and can be reached at paulatracy@roadrunner.com.

LINCOLN, N.H. —

The need for energy efficiency and concern for global climate change are driving engineers to build a better snow gun.

And it is working -- just ask anyone who has recently been to Loon.

Advertisement

Ski-area operators say advances in snowmaking technology over the past decade are making a significant dent into the damage nature is dishing out with rain, snow-eating fog and warm temperatures.

There is a difference in both the quantity and quality of snow being blown this winter throughout New England, and it is happening at higher temperatures. The folks with the new toys are riding high.

Snowmakers say they can make five times the amount of snow with the same amount of compressed air and water compared to even 10 years ago, and that the crystals being delivered to the surface to shred under snowboards and skis is more durable, reusable and more easily groomed.

With climate change a consideration that the ski industry is taking seriously, guns are now efficient and able to make snow at higher temperatures as well, provided there is adequate water.

Ken Mack is director of snowmaking at Loon Mountain in Lincoln. He began in 1999 and is the third generation in his family to work on the mountain. They were all groomers.

He remembers the old days.

"It was more of an art form," he said. "The snowmaker had to make adjustments for maximum snow," as the conditions changed.

In late November and early December when nothing was open in the state, Loon has clocked over 500 hours of snowmaking and has more than 30 trails open.

In the past two years, Loon has spent more than a half-million dollars on new snowmaking equipment.

Behind his desk, Mack reaches for a heavy steel snow gun, made by Ratnick. It is still a system standard.

Snowmaking is largely dependent on the snowmaker adjusting a nozzle that combines compressed air and water. It is placed on a tripod a few feet above the ground and the product shoots out like a cannon. If you have ever had to ski next to one of these things, you know that if the blast is coming out and sticks primarily to your parka, the product is too wet and hard. But if it just sloughs off, the snowmaker has a done a good job of mixing the air and the water based on temperature, Mack noted.

In the past two years, Loon has invested in 640 new Low-E HKD aerial snowguns, which have become a game-changer for the resort. Last year, it meant the resort was among the first in the East to open and one of the last to close, something that Mount Sunapee's spokesman Bruce McCloy marveled at.

Especially in the late fall when we talked about it, Loon had far more terrain open than Sunapee and most every other resort New Hampshire.

Loon has added 40 new guns this year on Lower Twitcher.

McCloy said the previous generation of the HKD pole guns, which Sunapee has, still work far better than the old methods, allowing the crystals to drop from the sky.

"This and gives them more hang time," McCloy said. "The crystals formed are nice and tight," and far more durable.

Also, he said he can make five times the amount of snow using these guns which are more enegy efficient.

But each gun costs over $2,500.

On the mountain, you see them spaced, in some cases, as close to 30 feet apart the higher up the mountain you go.

The snow can be plowed downhill.

Fan guns, which appeared mostly in the Midwest in the 1990s, are being used more often in the East. Their benefit is they can make a lot of snow at higher temperatures and are energy efficient. But, their drawback is they cannot be easily moved around a resort. You will see them in base areas and wide open beginner terrain cranking out the produc. But, on the hill, the aerial guns rule.

Built in Natick, Mass. HKD is a leader in the technology. It was a company created by Herman K. Duprey who first used the technology at Seven Springs Resort in Pennsylvania. The pipe, pressure washer and nozzles are all American made. The company just purchased the Canadian firm Turbocrystal of St. Anne, Quebec.

The beauty for Mack is that these new guns have a measured output which is not based on the snowmaker tinkering with amounts of pressure and water in the Ratnick snow gun.

"I can calculate it so I know exactly what I can run," said Mack. He noted in the past he might have had maybe 80 guns going at the same time. Now, he can have 285 guns working at once, have fewer gallons of water pushed out and with a lower cost on the electric bill.

These days, Loon pumps 150 to 189 million gallons of water a year on the hill where a decade ago, it was more like 300 million gallons, Mack noted. It is returned into the watershed as water in the spring.

"The quantity is twice the volume and two-thirds the energy consumption and the quality is tremendous," he said.

Expect these guns to kick into high gear all across New England this week as the cold weather returns. This will allow resorts to spruce up a bit for the upcoming three-day weekend.